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GM researches smart windshield 
September 4, 2008, by Kami Buchholz, SAE
Futuristic windshield aims to help older drivers
July 18, 2008, by Margaret Harding, AP
Wade
Bryant on the interior design of the Chevy Volt
January 10, 2007, by AutoblogGreen
Electric
Chevrolet Volt Concept Debut at NAIAS
January 8, 2007, by Frank de Leeuw van Weenen
Windshields
read like dashboards
March 1, 2004
Display
firm gives heads-up to investors
February 7, 2004 |
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Windshields
read like dashboards
By Francine Brevetti, BUSINESS WRITER | March 01, 2004
TED SUN SAYS that for every second a driver traveling at 60 mph
lifts his eyes from the road, he travels 100 feet. Such life-threatening
distractions include looking at the dashboard. For just a second.
But Sun, a materials chemist, and his partner Jian Qiang Liu, an
electrical engineer specializing in optical systems, say they can
make driving safer by developing materials that infuse the windshield
with transparent electronic imagery.
So the driver can view on the windshield information from the dashboard
such as the speedometer, the odometer, or a compass. And the information
can be constantly updated.
That's the technology they are working on under the company name
Superimaging Inc.
The pair won "best of show" recently at a presentation
of the Golden State Capital Network, a nonprofit that gives entrepreneurs
a stage to describe their projects to possible investors. General
Motors and BMW are already experimenting with the projection of
the speedometer on the windshield. Such devices have been standard
in Corvettes for several years.
But the two Fremont scientists say their idea does not entail the
projection of an image, although it does involve optical sciences.
Using materials they decline to describe, their product, they assert,
is superior to that of the big automakers.
"We have very special materials technology that turns glass
into an electronic display using fundamentally different technology
than GM," Sun said.
They said their solution takes a fraction of the wattage that GM
is using and entails "dramatically lower" costs.
"There are potentially many applications for this technology,
but we wanted to find the one we can commercialize most quickly,"
said Liu.
Sun and Liu devised their idea while working on a project for the
Department of Defense entailing transparent electronic displays
in three dimensions.
Although their work for the DOD entailed 3-D technology, for the
first product of their own company -- the transparent electronic
display for the windshield -- they are working in two dimensions.
"We are positioning ourselves to catch the next wave of car
safety innovation," said Sun.
But their technology is not limited to automobiles. They foresee
the day when windows on buildings will be enabled with the same
technology.
Sun believes that one day a consumer will be able to go to a restaurant
or other retail establishment and instead of seeing the daily specials
or the latest sales presented on posters would be able to read them
on the storefront window, a window that would maintain its transparency
and could be easily updated by computer.
They just moved their workplace out of a garage to a tiny office
and expect to soon have five employees. While they are supporting
their vision with government contracts, they look forward to the
day they can partner with auto and auto parts manufacturers to make
their product a reality.
"We don't want to get into manufacturing," said Sun.
Leonard LaFrance, a member of Sierra Angels, saw their presentation
at the Golden State Capital Network session. His interest was piqued
sufficiently to consider having the Superimaging founders present
their ideas to Sierra Angels, a group of investors who provide seed-stage
investors to entrepreneurs.
LaFrance reckoned the "markets for both cars and commercial
signage are broad" and promising for such a technology.
"As more technologies move into the car, like GPS and others,
it becomes almost mandatory," he said. "I've had a number
of instances when my eyes were suddenly taken off the road."
Francine Brevetti can be reached at fbrevetti@angnewspapers.com
or (510) 208-6416. |
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